Boiler-furnace grate



(No Model.)

W. BOWERS.

BOILER FURNAGRGRATE.

Patented Aug.1, 1882.

N. PEIERS. Plww-Lnho n her. washin wn. DJ;

' N EDLS E PATENT 'Y'FFIGE.

WILLIAM BOWERS, OF O ARBO NDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER-FURNACE- o. RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 261,992, dated August1, 1882. Application filed June 22, 1852. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern: F

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BOWERS, of Carbondale, in the county ofLackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Boiler-Furnace Grates; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in grates for steam boiler furnacesof the class in which the grate-bars are pivoted independently inbearings and, are provided with interlocking teeth, by the action ofwhich, when the bars are tilted, the clinkers and ashes are torn topieces and permitted to pass between the bars, while the ignited fuel isat the same time thoroughly shaken and agitated.

.The object of my invention is, first, to proride for amore ready andperfect admission of air to the tire by making the grate-bars ofpeculiar shape; further, to insure against clogging of the bars by thelodgment of clinkers between the same; further, to increase the strengthof the bars and prevent warping and twisting without unduly increasingtheir weight; and, in general, to produce a simplyconstructed, durable,and effective-- grate at small cost. i

l The invention consists partly in the peculiar quadrant-shapedgrate-bars, tapered to an edge around the curve or are and having astraight upper edge; further, in the construction of the frame of thegrate, by which in a sectional grate material is economized andlightness secured; further, in the peculiar compound lever foroscillating all the grate bars simultaneously in the same direction 5and, finally, in the general construction and arrangement of the variousparts and in their several combinations, all fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a grate composed of twosections. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of four grate bars and theirconnecting-le ers, showing them. at their limit of motion in onedirection. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the lines 00 w and y 3 Fig. 4. isa bottom view of a single grate-bar.

' The grate for a boiler-furnace may be composed of an y desireduumberof sections, accordin g to the size and shape of the boiler. InFig.1 I have represented two of such sections, A A,

as forming the grate. Each section is composed of end bars, B, bolted toside bars, 0 O,

the endand side bars beingpreferably formed projecting therefrom atright angles, forming prongs which extend on opposite sides of the riband interlock with corresponding teeth in the next bar. These prongs areabout four inches in length from the center of the rib, as I have foundthat it is not desirable for them to penetrate the fuel on the grate toagreater depth, as shown in Fig. 4, each tooth of the grate-bar-by whichI mean the two oppositely- The depressions in the bar 0 are l The lplaced quadrantshaped prongs referred to,

which, taken together, form a single semicircular projection-is a topplan view of a nar-' row lozenge shape, the ends or corners being sharp.The bars taper from the plane top equally on all sides to thesharp-curvededge, but on top have a plain flat surface. The teeth ofadjoining bars, when in position, fit closely together, as shown in thedrawings, while the teeth on the last bar at each end mesh withstationary quadrant -shap.-d teeth E E, cast with the end bars, B B.Each grate-bar is provided withtrunnionset 4, by which it isjournaled.in the bearings in the side bars 0 O,

the trunnions on one side, howevcrpoccupying less than half of thebearing-surface of the grooves in the side bar 0, the remainder of thespace being filled by the trunnions on the gratebars which form the nextsection, A. These trunnions are prevented from coming in contact by thepartition 5. While the bar C is on its upper surface of nearly twice thewidth of the bar 0, yet, in order to admit air to the greatest extentpossible, such bar is tapered, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby making itmuch lighter and economizing material.

The grate-bars are oscillated simultaneously by a compound lever, G H.The arm G is pivoted tohangers 7, secured to or cast with thegrate-bars. The arm G passes through the ash-pit and furnace-doorthrough a narrow slot in the latter. 0n the outside of the furnace issupported a standard, 8, and to this standard is pivoted the arm H,which is also pivoted to the outer end of G. The end of the arm H may beformed into a hand-lever, or said arm may be provided with a socket toreceive a suitable detachable lever, by either of which devices motionis communicated to the gratebars. By this compound-lever arrangement thebar G is given a direct reciprocation, and consequently works in anarrow slotin the wall or door of the ash-pit. Hence the necessity ofopening the door, in order to operate the lever, with the accompanyingshower of ashes and dust, (particularly wherea blast is employed,) isentirely obviated. Since each bar is provided with a hanger to whichtherod G is pivoted, itfollows that all the bars are given asimultaneous inclination in the same direction, as shown in Fig. 2,causing interlocking prongs of adjoining bars to move in oppositedirection, those of one bar being depressed, while those on the otherare elevated. I have found in practice that this movement effects a morecomplete and thorough tearing and grinding of the fuel than result wheninterlocking prongs movesimultaneously in the same direction, since inthe latter case the equal risingof the bars simply raises and lowers thefuel without thoroughly agitating it, while in my device a portion ofthe fuel drops while the remainder is lifted, and, the teeth penetratingthe fuel, the whole mass is thoroughly shaken. By the peculiar shape ofmy grate bars three direct ad vantages are obtained: First, the centralrib and semicircular or doublequadrantsha-ped teeth are of such depththat their strength is greatly increased, and they are prevented fromthe warping and twisting incident to-the narrow bars in general use;second, that while the bars fit so closely on their upper surfaces as-to afford a firm support for the fuel, yet, on account of the beveledor tapered shape of the teeth, wide open spaces are left below for theadmission of air to the fuel; and, third, that clogging of the grate byclinkers is prevented, since the spaces between the teeth widendownwardly. It also results from constructing the teeth with a fiat topthat sharp ends or corners are formed, which penetrate the mass'of fueland thoroughly agitate it.

It will be noticed that the hangers and levers for operating the barsare placed under and in line with the teeth. A clear air-space is thuspermitted between the end of the grate-bars and the side walls, and thelevers and fixtures form no obstruction to the admission of air to thetire. By utilizing the bar 0 as a support for the trnnnions of bothsectionsI economize metal, while I provide also a more solid frameworkthan if separate side bars were used, while by tapering the said sidebars downwardly I increase the air-space below the grate.

I prefer to use independent shakingdevices for each gratesection; but itwill readily be observed that by making proper connections all the barsin the different sections may be shaken simultaneously.

I have found that the agitation of the bars in my grate disposes soeffectually of the ashes, clinkers, and other refuse that no meansfordumping the grate are necessary. I am thus enabled to economize fuel toa very great extent.

Having described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In a grate composed of two or more sections, A A, thecombination of the end bars, B B, having stationary quadrant-shapedteeth E, the side bars, (3 O G, and a series of gratebars pivoted inbearings in such side bars and having interlocking teeth.

2. The described grate-bars. having the central rib, 2, and a series ofsemicircular or double-quadrant-shaped teeth, E, adapted to interlockwith corresponding teeth on adjoining bars, in combination with meansfor simultaneously oscillating such bars.

3. A grate-bar composed of a central rib, 2, and a series of teeth, I,set at right angles thereto, such teeth having the flat lozengeshapedupper surface, sharp corners, and being beveled to an approximatelysemicircular lower edge, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a furnace-grate, the side bar, 0, having the dividedbearing-grooves in its upper face and constructed of a tapered orbeveled cross section, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BOVVERS.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. MEAD, F. L. MIDDLETON.

